Chael Sonnen chooses Dan Henderson as 'TUF 17' assistant coach

Chael Sonnen today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that not only does he expect Dan Henderson to help him prepare for a title fight against Jon Jones – but Henderson will be one of his assistant coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter 17.”

“We’re on great terms (and) we’ve always been on great terms,” Sonnen said while adding that Henderson will also corner him against the light-heavyweight champ when they meet April 27.

Sonnen downplayed any rift with the former PRIDE champ and two-time UFC title challenger that arose in the wake of his selection as a coach for “TUF 17,” which came with the guaranteed title fight against Jones.

“You’ve got to understand, what Dan and I have got is like the military,” Sonnen said. “Our gym has got an order, and Dan is one of the coaches. He’s above me. I don’t talk back to Dan, and if Dan wants to say something, that would be the way it is.”

Henderson (29-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who was scheduled to fight for the title at UFC 151 before a knee injury forced him to withdraw from the event (which was later canceled), had plenty to say following the unexpected turn on the UFC’s long-running reality show. He criticized the decision to pair Sonnen (28-12-1 MMA, 6-5 UFC) and Jones (17-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC).

“I guess I should just quit training to win fights and to be exciting for the fans and just go to s— talking school,” he tweeted.

Later, Sonnen himself hinted that a rift might have developed between them as a result of his assignments.

“I haven’t spoken to him, but, um – I haven’t spoken to Dan,” Sonnen said on Tuesday during a fan chat sponsored by MetroPCS. “We’ll leave it at that.”

Now, it appears the two have not only mended fences, but joined forces. Sonnen, though, said that’s nothing to be surprised about.

“He’s helped me through my whole career,” he said. “The media can try to spin it however they want. But he’s helped me with my whole career, and he’s going to help me with this one, too.”

UFC President Dana White recently shot down rumors that he had skipped over Henderson in favor of the sharp-tongued Sonnen, who went on the verbal offensive against Jones during a conference call announcing their fight and “TUF” gig. But today Sonnen was nothing but respectful toward the champ.

“Dan Henderson is hurt,” White said on Tuesday. “I called Dan Henderson yesterday or the day before – whenever the hell it was. I said, ‘How’s your knee?’ He said, ‘It’s still tight. I’m going to start training and see how it feels.’ He doesn’t even know how his knee feels yet. He doesn’t even know if his knee is 100 percent yet, and everyone is chirping about the Dan Henderson fight. Dan Henderson is not healthy yet.”

Sonnen and Henderson still are vying for the same title, however. Of a possible collision later down the line, Sonnen said, “You’ve got to stick around, man. I can’t give you the conclusion. What fun will reading the book be?”

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